I’ve shared my homemade baby care recipes before but I get a lot of questions about variations of the natural diaper rash cream specifically. I’ve played around with some recipes and settled on one that is by far more effective than any other options I’ve found.
How to Make a Natural Diaper Rash Cream
I chose all of the ingredients for this natural diaper cream recipe for a very specific reason and together they are really effective at battling diaper rash. For this recipe, I use:
Shea Butter – I use this as one of the core ingredients in homemade diaper cream because contains the fat soluble vitamins A and E. It is soothing to the skin and has a natural SPF of about 6. Additionally, it helps protect skin from drying out since it contains five essential fatty acids.
Coconut Oil: I use coconut oil for everything, but it is especially helpful in diaper cream since it is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. It is actually pretty effective on many types of diaper rash if used alone but is more effective when combined with these other ingredients.
Beeswax: Provides a protective barrier for the skin and helps hold the other ingredients to the skin so they can be effective.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil Liquid: A secret ingredient for helping heal baby’s bottom. Fish oil is often used in conventional diaper creams but the Weston A. Price foundation recommends fermented cod liver oil as a first food and used on a baby’s bottom since it is a good source of fat soluble vitamins and baby will only absorb what is needed from the skin. This ingredient is optional but helpful. Note that this can go rancid so you won’t want to use this ingredient if you don’t plan to use the cream within about 3 months.
Zinc Oxide: An ingredient in main brands like Desitin and Balmex, zinc oxide is insoluble in water and coats the skin. When mixed with the other ingredients, it makes skin water proof and keeps it from drying out. If you rub a small amount of this cream on your arm, you’ll notice that water beads on top of your skin and won’t absorb.
Bentonite Clay: Helps control moisture and fights bacteria on the skin that can be making the rash worse.
Diaper Cream Ingredients
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 Tablespoon beeswax pastilles
- 1 Tablespoon Fermented Cod Liver Oil (optional)
- 2 Tablespoons zinc oxide powder
- 1 Tablespoon bentonite clay
- Optional: A few drops of chamomile essential oil
Diaper Cream Instructions
- Mix shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler or glass bowl over a small saucepan with an inch of water. Bring water to a boil and melt the ingredients. I keep a double boiler just for making beauty products since it is difficult to clean dishes after making anything with beeswax or zinc oxide.
- Remove from heat and add the Fermented Cod Liver Oil, Zinc Oxide, Bentonite Clay and Essential Oil (if using).
- Stir carefully as it starts to cool. I recommend using a popsicle stick or disposable straw to stir so it can be discarded since it is difficult to get the mixture off of dishes.
- Pour in to container you are going to use to store it and stir a few more times as it cools.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.
- Use as needed for diaper rash.
Ever made a homemade diaper cream? How did it work? Share below!
Thank you, Katie for all the information you provide! It’s been a blessing to our family!
Should we be sure not to prepare and/or store this cream in a metal container? My understanding is that the Bentonite clay is “deactivated” (i.e. the ions get messed-up) if used in metal. Is that your understanding as well?
Ive always read to not have it touch metal either. I use silicone or wood to stir it, always.
Made this last night! Didn’t have the cod liver oil (only the butter oil blend, and didn’t think that would do too well). It’s fantastic. So moisturizing and very easy.
On the other end of the age spectrum, I am thinking this would work well for the elderly. My mother is in an assisted living facility. She has some incontinence issues and we are looking for soothing creams to deal similar skin issues caused by adult “diapers”. Thanks for the option:)
I wish hospitals would use Kaite’s ideas!
Hi Katie,
Great site! You´ve really been an inspiration at the start of my DIY journey.
A little question: what can I use if I can´t find bentonite clay? Both here and in the homemade toothpaste recipe. Can I replace wiyh french clay? rasshoul?
Hi Katie–is this safe for cloth diapers? I can’t remember what diapering system you use, so not sure if you’d have experience with this or not. Thanks!
Zinc Oxide shouldn’t be used on cloth diapers. I plan to skip the the zinc oxide, where my daughter uses cloth as well.
My baby girl had a bad rash and I mean her butt was burned. We tried everything from destin to sunshine. The only thing that worked was motherlove diaper rash and thrush balm. I call it magic cream and we put just a little bit on and she’s been good ever since.
my grandson had a rear bottom and nothing his doc recommended worked but i told my daughter-in-law to use castor oil liberally spread on his bottom and in 24 -hrs a lot of the redness had disappeared by day two he was back to normal also used extra virgin coconut oil as as an alternative as well so give it a try and see if it works for you, good luck!
This is great! Can’t wait to whip it up. We love CJ’s BUTTer Spritz Oil because its a way to gently coat the tushy without getting our fingers goopy. I’ve scoured the web for a homemade version but can’t find one. Would love to know if you have something in mind!
I have nano zinc oxide for making sunscreen, will it work for diaper rash cream as well? Also, do you think cocoa butter is ok in place of shea butter? I’m just trying to use what I have on hand so I don’t have to go out. Thank you!
Those substitutions should work!
I’ve read that the Earth Mama Diaper Balm is safe for cloth diapers. It has olive oil in it though. Do you not suggest olive oil as an ingredient? And why?
To follow up with that, is that why you don’t have it in your balm?
Thank you so much I came up with my own yeast diaper rash cream last weekend for my 1 month old and never thought of adding bentonite clay. I’m going to remelt and add some to mine. Thank you for the idea. Will this be okay for cloth wipes and diapers?
What is your recipe for yeast rash cream? My 9mo daughter has been fighting a yeast rash for over a month now. 🙁
I don’t mess around with yeast because it spreads so quickly, is hard to get rid of and it leads to a very painful rash. When my son gets it, I use OTC medication that knocks it out. It’s the same medication that’s used for athlete’s foot …and you can buy it for a dollar at the 99 Cent Only store.
Anyone with yeast rash issues!!! Best natural way to get rid of yeast related rashes… french green clay power. The same stuff you can mix up for your homemade face masks. It absorbs crazy amounts of moisture which yeast needs to thrive. I’ve used it on rashes that OTC and Rx treatments could not resolve. They were gone in hours. Get good quality, pure french clay. Can be purchased online for cheap… like $12 for two pounds which will last you forever.
Hi Jennifer,
Can you provide some more instruction on using french green clay powder for yeast rashes. Do you mix it with anything? How long do you leave it on? How often does it need to be repeated? Where do you buy it? Is there a brand you prefer?
What did you use for your recipe?
I cloth diaper and anything with fish oil or cod liver oil makes them stink like fish. Can I leave out those ingredients and still have a functioning product?
Yes, I’d also use a liner with zinc oxide though since it can cause them to repel.
Does it make them smell? Here is the recipe I am planning to make will it work for cloth diapers? •Shea butter (mountain rose herb)
•Coconut oil
•Bees wax pellets
•Vegit able glycerine
•arrowroot
•chamomile flowers
•calendula flowers
• tablespoon bentonite clay
•2 Tablespoons Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Is this recipe good? I combined a few
I would leave out the fish oil… it will leave an strong fishy odor that is impossible to get out!
I was gonna double the recipe and add a carrior oil like Avocado that has been infused with chamomile, rose, cauldula flower instead of the coconut oil for the 2nd recipe. I thought there was a warning on Bentonite clay??
This looks awesome!! Is this safe for cloth diapers? Thank you so much for all that you do!!
I have a feeling.it.woupdnt.work with cloth because.of the beeswax? It might clog the pores and make it unable to absorb water (since a feeling of this ingredients are moisture repellents)
Hi, it says use within 3 months? I made mine without the liver oil and essential oil. Does it go bad after 3 months?
Thanks
Angelique
Cod liver oil is not safe for use with cloth diapers! It will make them smell like dead fish. (I would assume that fermenting the cod liver oil would not make a difference here, but maybe?) I would leave that ingredient out if making for use with cloth diapers (even if using a diaper liner, because those always seem to shift around on us).
I used to use A&D Ointment on my kids the very few times they had diaper rash. A&D has cod liver oil and while it smelled not so good I never had any problems with it making the diapers smell bad. But I washed the diapers in hot water. Also I gave my kids cod liver oil as a supplement, used cloth diapers to wipe their cod liver oily faces and it washed out easily and diapers smelled just fine.
Zinc is not recommended for use with cloth diapers. I’m wondering if you have any advice to increase the melt temperature on this recipe?
I use cloth diapers and at every diaper change I apply a layer of coconut oil/thieves oil (2-3 drops of thieves for every tbsp of coconut oil, stored in an airtight container) to her bum. This has been preventing any kind of rash for her entire first year.
Thieves has multiple different essential oils in it that are not safe for use on babies. Please research the essential oils you are using on your children before you take some sales persons word for it.
Hello,
I’m having a tough time with laundering my cloth diapers. We have an HE washer and it doesn’t use enough water- it will drain out any additional water that I add. After multiple washes, the diapers smell and look clean but we’re getting that horrible ammonia build up smell that is horrible for baby’s skin and smells horrible. Thanks HE:(
I’m prepared to get an old washer – do you have any tips for keeping the cloth diapers clean? I have been going crazy trying different things!
thanks,
Julie
I’ve heard great things about “Rock in Green- Funk Rock” it’s a bit pricey but I’ve heard not a single negative response about it. It lifts and removes any built up on cloth diapers targeting on ammonia. https://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Green-Ammonia-Bouncer-Detergent/dp/B004D5KJJA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=1f5ac6f0f71911b0d7d7d4d78a8feaf6&language=en_US
I’ve heard of people using soaked towels to trick HE washers to think there’s more clothes in the wash, thus adding more water. To help prevent ammonia build up I pre-rinse all diapers with a diaper sprayer before tossing in the diaper pail. It helps a lot. But before I knew that I had ammonia build up on my sons diapers, so I had to strip them. For HE washers I believe it’s 1 teaspoon of regular dawn ultra dish soap and up to a cup of bleach. I have a regular washer, but this was cheap and effective. There’s a YouTube video on this from mama natural.